West Oxfordshire

West Oxfordshire's population expanded in the decade to 2011. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure.

The population passed 100,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of West Oxfordshire increased by 9.6%, from just over 95,600 to 105,000.

The addition of about 9,100 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, West Oxfordshire was home to, on average, 1 person per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it the South East's second-least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

West Oxfordshire stood out from other areas for children

In West Oxfordshire, the proportion went up from 60% in 2001 to 62% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion remained close to 62%.

The proportion of households with children in West Oxfordshire fell from 30% to 29%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 9.4% to 9.1%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that without children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Housing in West Oxfordshire

The percentage of households that owner their home fell in West Oxfordshire, but at a slower rate than across the South East.

In West Oxfordshire, the proportion of home ownership decreased from 73% in 2001 to 70% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion decreased from 73% to 67%.

Across England, the share of households that owner their home decreased from 68% to 63%.

Private renting in West Oxfordshire increased from 11% to 15%, while the rate of social housing decreased from 13% to 12%.

The rate of home ownership was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that that owner their home across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of West Oxfordshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.2% to 3.5% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (85%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 74% in 2001. The percentage of West Oxfordshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in West Oxfordshire decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in West Oxfordshire, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in West Oxfordshire

The number of people in West Oxfordshire from the White ethnic groups increased from just over 94,000 in 2001 to just over 100,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 97%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in West Oxfordshire from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 510 in 2001 to just over 1,400 in 2011 (from 0.5% to 1.4%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 630 to about 1,300 (from 0.7% to 1.2%).

Just under 440 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 210 in 2001 (0.4%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in West Oxfordshire decreased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and West Oxfordshire by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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